I just got home after finally getting to see the movie, and I absolutely loved it. It was fun, it was exciting, it was fast-paced; Star Trek hasn't been this entertaining in years. The story nor the writing were perfect, and I think the movie could have really benefited from some on-set fine-tuning that they weren't able to do because of the Writers' Strike. But it was more than good enough. The actors were all fantastic, and totally nailed their characters. The standouts, for me, were Pine, Quinto, and Urban, which is probably a good thing since they're playing the Big Three. I really wish I hadn't watched that clip of Bones' introduction a few weeks ago, because seeing that for the first time on the big screen would have been magnificent.

My girls took me to see the movie for Mother's Day and I have tried to catch up with this thread to see other's opinions and takes before posting - don't want to be too repetitive. In a nutshell, we all loved it!!
We have different points of view - my 16 YO has never watched scifi and, god bless her, she is the quintessential blonde cheerleader stereotype, although she is an honor student - my 32 YO is a science/math geek who has marginally enjoyed Trek, especially Kirk & Co., since she was a kid - and I am a somewhat geeky fan who got hooked on TOS in 1966 when I was 12. But, in the end, we really agreed on what we enjoyed about the movie.
Maybe it's a chick's point of view, but we really connected to the character development, the humor, the coming-of-age journey of both Kirk and Spock, the idea of finding your true friends in life, and low-key portrayal of Nero. The special effects, space battles, etc. were exciting, but not overdone, and by no means the central function of the movie, although the younger said some bits made her feel like she was in science class (not her favorite subject).
The elder daughter and I felt that the new cast gave us the essential elements of our favorite characters, and then spun some great new twists on them - we like these newer versions mucho grande. The younger had no frame of reference, but likes the characters very much - she really liked Chekov and was impressed that he is only 17. Since my family name is Pike, and my brother named his son after Capt. Pike, we have a fondness for the great portrayal of Pike by Greenwood. I liked the ordinariness of Nero with his random fits of maniacal madness. I don't like many of the over-the-top villians that are so common and overdone in movies so often.
I like the differences in this universe, especially those for Spock. There is tremendous potential to give these characters amazing new adventures. We agreed on keeping Vulcan destroyed, and although you might consider it a stretch that all these young officers ended up on the Enterprise, there is no more suspension of disbelief asked of the viewer than in almost any Trek movie or episode, or many other stories for that matter. Really didn't impact my enjoyment in any way.
We noticed the Spock/Uhura undercurrents from their first scene together. I thought the scene in the turbolift (when she tried to comfort him and got his Vulcan 'stiff upper lip' in response) showed a deep connection, caring, and understanding between these two - an extreme rarity in Trek to date, and a very welcome addition. We totally loved Kirk and Scotty responding to the kiss on the transporter pad.
So many things about Kirk's developing character that we found interesting - I'll just mention that one of the most telling for me was his diving off the platform after Sulu ('I don't believe in no-win scenarios'). And I loved that Vulcans and Romulans could totally whip his ass - one thing I hated about ENT was that Archer could always beat up any stronger alien.
In the end, when you pay your money to see the movie of your choice, you hope that the (fictional) story entertains you to your money's worth. We felt completely entertained BEYOND our money's worth, and that is what matters.

It would have been easy enough to explain away Vulcan's and/or Earth's paucity of defenses.

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Vulcan was clueless. They thought it was only natural phenomena. Earth didn't have defenses because Nero had the defense net codes after torturing Pike and they had already sent their ships to be destroyed earlier. Those points were mentioned in the movie. If you didn't like that story, that's up to you, but saying it was "lazy writing" is an odd argument because these points were actually explained.

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Im sorry, I agree with the "lazy writing" analysis. See, I think that the writers tried to jam too much back story into a short 2 hour film. Personally, I think that certain things did need a more elaborate set up and a much more in-depth development. For instance, if it is true that they had already sent their ships to destroy Earth's defenses, a quick 1 minute shot of those ships attacking Earth's defenses would have cleared that right up. That said, since when does a mining ship have enough fire power to take out EARTH's defense net?? One little mining ship would never have been enough for that.
Remember, we're not bashing on the movie just to bash... we're doing it because we care and want the writers to fix it the next time around (and believe me, I DO hope there is another one). Through all its faults, this movie did excite me about the franchise again and I'd be more than happy to see the next one. All I ask is not to have my intelligence insulted by one of my favorite series, thats all.

It would have been easy enough to explain away Vulcan's and/or Earth's paucity of defenses.

Click to expand...

Vulcan was clueless. They thought it was only natural phenomena. Earth didn't have defenses because Nero had the defense net codes after torturing Pike and they had already sent their ships to be destroyed earlier. Those points were mentioned in the movie. If you didn't like that story, that's up to you, but saying it was "lazy writing" is an odd argument because these points were actually explained.

Click to expand...

Im sorry, I agree with the "lazy writing" analysis. See, I think that the writers tried to jam too much back story into a short 2 hour film. Personally, I think that certain things did need a more elaborate set up and a much more in-depth development. For instance, if it is true that they had already sent their ships to destroy Earth's defenses, a quick 1 minute shot of those ships attacking Earth's defenses would have cleared that right up. That said, since when does a mining ship have enough fire power to take out EARTH's defense net?? One little mining ship would never have been enough for that.
Remember, we're not bashing on the movie just to bash... we're doing it because we care and want the writers to fix it the next time around (and believe me, I DO hope there is another one). Through all its faults, this movie did excite me about the franchise again and I'd be more than happy to see the next one. All I ask is not to have my intelligence insulted by one of my favorite series, thats all.

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One little mining ship?????? Did you not see the expositional shot of the Kelvin beside the Narada - worse than a rowboat taking on an aircraft carrier.

Vulcan was clueless. They thought it was only natural phenomena. Earth didn't have defenses because Nero had the defense net codes after torturing Pike and they had already sent their ships to be destroyed earlier. Those points were mentioned in the movie. If you didn't like that story, that's up to you, but saying it was "lazy writing" is an odd argument because these points were actually explained.

Click to expand...

Im sorry, I agree with the "lazy writing" analysis. See, I think that the writers tried to jam too much back story into a short 2 hour film. Personally, I think that certain things did need a more elaborate set up and a much more in-depth development. For instance, if it is true that they had already sent their ships to destroy Earth's defenses, a quick 1 minute shot of those ships attacking Earth's defenses would have cleared that right up. That said, since when does a mining ship have enough fire power to take out EARTH's defense net?? One little mining ship would never have been enough for that.
Remember, we're not bashing on the movie just to bash... we're doing it because we care and want the writers to fix it the next time around (and believe me, I DO hope there is another one). Through all its faults, this movie did excite me about the franchise again and I'd be more than happy to see the next one. All I ask is not to have my intelligence insulted by one of my favorite series, thats all.

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One little mining ship?????? Did you not see the expositional shot of the Kelvin beside the Narada - worse than a rowboat taking on an aircraft carrier.

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Not enough for its ships to take out the planet's defenses I would think.

The general air of swashbuckling adventure that gave TOS its charm pervades the new movie, and in some ways the new movie exceeds its source material--I'm especially thinking of how characters other than the Big 3 all got something to do.

Yes, there were problems--Urban's McCoy is a little too similar to DeForest Kelley's, Nero couldn't be more one dimensional if he were a straight line, and the technobabble was a little too dumb for its own good. But the raw, unfettered fun overwhelms those quibbles and makes Star Trek an excellent, excellent movie.

Im sorry, I agree with the "lazy writing" analysis. See, I think that the writers tried to jam too much back story into a short 2 hour film. Personally, I think that certain things did need a more elaborate set up and a much more in-depth development. For instance, if it is true that they had already sent their ships to destroy Earth's defenses, a quick 1 minute shot of those ships attacking Earth's defenses would have cleared that right up. That said, since when does a mining ship have enough fire power to take out EARTH's defense net?? One little mining ship would never have been enough for that.
Remember, we're not bashing on the movie just to bash... we're doing it because we care and want the writers to fix it the next time around (and believe me, I DO hope there is another one). Through all its faults, this movie did excite me about the franchise again and I'd be more than happy to see the next one. All I ask is not to have my intelligence insulted by one of my favorite series, thats all.

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One little mining ship?????? Did you not see the expositional shot of the Kelvin beside the Narada - worse than a rowboat taking on an aircraft carrier.

Click to expand...

Not enough for its ships to take out the planet's defenses I would think.

I'll just say that all the people voting excellent and saying this is the best Star Trek film ever, I hope I don't see any of you looking down your noses at Independence Day and Armageddon, as has been quite common around these parts.

as a BIG Trek fan who had become jaded with Enterprise and Nemesis, i'm not sure how I felt about a reboot of Star Trek, but when I saw the 1st proper trailer I was delighted with the trailer it actually got me excited for the film. Then I saw the film itself and I wasn't disappointed, I thought it was the best Trek Film i'd seen since First Contact, had action,adventure,conflict,humour, everything needed for a Star Trek Film. Not sure how it will affect the future of the old series, but then it could be that despite this hiccup in the timeline, the original series now happens with slight differences such as it would be Vulcan 2.0 that they go to, to restore Spock after he dies etc

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The fact that all of future Spock's memories were still intact says that the original timeline did happen. If those events didn't happen, the older Spock may not have existed, or may not have had any recollection of the timeline we all know happened...

It's confusing, but interesting nonetheless.

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Time Travel gives me a headache The way I see it everything pre this film happened, its just the effect of Nero coming back in time to the point where Kirk was born changed everything after that. Future Spock wasn't affected because he was caught in the phenomenan that sent him back in time, so was outside time when the obvious changes that happened to his past happened, so he remains unaffected with memory of the original timeline that happened without Nero interfering and destroying Vulcan.

For instance, if it is true that they had already sent their ships to destroy Earth's defenses, a quick 1 minute shot of those ships attacking Earth's defenses would have cleared that right up. That said, since when does a mining ship have enough fire power to take out EARTH's defense net?? One little mining ship would never have been enough for that.

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Lazy writing specifically relates to things the viewers have to fill in for themselves. These points were *covered* in the film. You're using the wrong term if you just want more elaboration. The ships at Earth were sent away earlier. They were the ones destroyed right before the Enterprise jumped out of warp. The Admiral said they were the only ships at Earth and they were sending them all to investigate. Everybody else was at the Laurentian system. The Earth's defense net was compromised because Nero tortured Pike for the codes, which was *said in the film*.

It may not be the way that makes a lot of sense to some, and some may have written it differently, but it's *not* lazy writing if it's *covered in the film*.

as a BIG Trek fan who had become jaded with Enterprise and Nemesis, i'm not sure how I felt about a reboot of Star Trek, but when I saw the 1st proper trailer I was delighted with the trailer it actually got me excited for the film. Then I saw the film itself and I wasn't disappointed, I thought it was the best Trek Film i'd seen since First Contact, had action,adventure,conflict,humour, everything needed for a Star Trek Film. Not sure how it will affect the future of the old series, but then it could be that despite this hiccup in the timeline, the original series now happens with slight differences such as it would be Vulcan 2.0 that they go to, to restore Spock after he dies etc

Click to expand...

The fact that all of future Spock's memories were still intact says that the original timeline did happen. If those events didn't happen, the older Spock may not have existed, or may not have had any recollection of the timeline we all know happened...

It's confusing, but interesting nonetheless.

Click to expand...

Time Travel gives me a headache The way I see it everything pre this film happened, its just the effect of Nero coming back in time to the point where Kirk was born changed everything after that. Future Spock wasn't affected because he was caught in the phenomenan that sent him back in time, so was outside time when the obvious changes that happened to his past happened, so he remains unaffected with memory of the original timeline that happened without Nero interfering and destroying Vulcan.

Okay anyone got an asprin

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You've pretty much clocked it exactly (seewhutididthr?). The timeline changed at the moment of Nero's appearance in the 23rd Century. Spock Prime survived because of the magical TrekScience that means the people time travelling are unaffected by changing events (see: First Contact). Prior to that moment, the timeline preceded as seen in Enterprise. After it, it went entirely new direction.
To be honest, I can't see how some people aren't grasping this - I don't think the conversation on the bridge could have driven it home any harder if Spock had pulled down a projector screen and mapped it out.

For instance, if it is true that they had already sent their ships to destroy Earth's defenses, a quick 1 minute shot of those ships attacking Earth's defenses would have cleared that right up. That said, since when does a mining ship have enough fire power to take out EARTH's defense net?? One little mining ship would never have been enough for that.

Click to expand...

Lazy writing specifically relates to things the viewers have to fill in for themselves. These points were *covered* in the film. You're using the wrong term if you just want more elaboration. The ships at Earth were sent away earlier. They were the ones destroyed right before the Enterprise jumped out of warp. The Admiral said they were the only ships at Earth and they were sending them all to investigate. Everybody else was at the Laurentian system. The Earth's defense net was compromised because Nero tortured Pike for the codes, which was *said in the film*.

It may not be the way that makes a lot of sense to some, and some may have written it differently, but it's *not* lazy writing if it's *covered in the film*.

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Sounds like you're taking the whole constructive critisism personally. You're not one of the writers are you?